Records posting device



May 27, 1958 T. G. DOLAN A 2,836,433

RECORDS POSTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Zelo/w46 G. DaLA/v rfaA/E/ May 27, 1958 T. G. DOLAN 2,836,433

` RECORDS POSTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff. n jg) 6 fill/4145 Thin/wa: '6. DoAA/ United States Patent C F ThornastG.y Dolan, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to Mercury Printing Qompany, New York, N. Y., a (zo-partnership Qual.

2 Claims.

This: invention is that of a posting devicel which enables simply and eiiiciently making entries simultaneously on a number ot different record sheets. While the device ofthe invention has been developed primarily for use, and used, in connection with payrollV information records and forms on which to enter them, and is described in detail below with particular reference to them, the device of the invention is equally well adapted for use with other types of records requiring entry of the same information on several derent forms each used for a separate, although related, purpose. Accounts receivable exemplifies such other type of records.

Viewed generally, the device of this invention includes a base-boardV or support member to serve as a writing bed, an entry location guiding Vor cover member having entry location openings in-it, and mounting means spaced away from the edge of one sideof the base-board for engagement with the same side of the guiding mask and along which the latter can be moved to position' it selectively at any of the various levels from top to bottom of the surface of the base-board to facilitate carrying out the various operations to be performed by the record keeper or booikeeper. Also spaced away from the same side of the baselboardare abutment means that serve to hold the guiding mask in an upright position, while supported bottom-wise on the mounting means. Therebythe guiding mask may be swung away about its mounting means from a position overlyingthe base-board to such upright position to afford direct access to the base-board for setting on it a journal, or ledger, or other r'e'cord sheet (more broadly calied a master sheet), as required by the partcula bookkeeping operation to be done.

T he base-board or writing bed preferably is constructed s`o as to inclineA slightly rearwardly (i. e. away from the us'er`)"when it is resting on a horizontal supporting surface. yThis is done by providing legs of suitable proportions on the underside of the base-board. Such inclined disposition servesv to bring the rearward portion of the board within closer reach of the and thereby per mits more rapid and less tiring operation. 55

Preferably means are provided for releasably ftxedly 'properly positioning theV master sheet when it is supported on the baseboard. These means may be in the form of a single row of upwardly projecting mastershe'et-restraining pins or pegs along one end of the baseboard for engagement through a corresponding row of Aholes in the master sheet. Such engagement keeps the master sheet from being islodged from its required position, for example, by the inclination of the base-*board or theV sliding movement of the guiding mask over the master sheet, or otherwise.

ever, as these pegs are located adjacent to one edge of 70 Vthe base-board, a maximum unobstructed work area is provided. The user thereby is alforded more freedom 2,836,433 Patented May 27, l

n E of arm movementvacross the board without fear of catching sleeves or other inadvertent engagement with parts of the device.

In use, the guiding mask then is positioned in overlying relation to the base-board and the master sheet on it and moved to expose to the users View, through one of the entry location openings, a selected portion of the master sheet. The necessary additional record or` auxiliary sheets, which can be' earning sheets for individual workers and their payroll checks or other desired records, then are superposed on the guiding mask in the desired relation, the selected portion of themaster sheet remaining exposed, with selected respective portions of these auxiliary recordv sheets' overlying another entry .location opening in the maskV to permit making entries simultaneously on the auxiliary and master'sheets, by the interposition between these sheets of suitable writing transferring means such as carbon paper or paper coated with other copy transferring pigment.

The entry location guiding mask or covertmember. may be fabricated of relatively thin, lightweight sheet material and of a size to extend substantially completely across the base-board from side to side, so as to accommodate a master sheet of full board width. While the guiding mask advantageously has some iiexibility to conform to various operating conditions, it is essential that it lbe of suicient stiffness to sustain itself in an upstanding position, for reasons that will be apparent later. The entry location openings of the guiding masktareV so shaped and positioned as to 'overlie different columns of the master sheet, thus permitting observation of indicia in one columnv andv ofVv entries simultaneously in another column 'of all of' the sheets.

The guiding mask mounting meansY isof hinge-like construction, and isl located at one side of, andespa'ced away from, the baseiboard so that the guiding mask can be swung away from the board completely to `uncover its entire upper surface. The master sheet then can be removed from and Vreplaced on the board conveniently, along withV carbon paper writing transferring means, if necessary.

The guiding mask mounting means in addition` enables sliding of the mask along the hinge-means, forwardlyrand Vrearwardly of the board, so as to exposey selectively `different lines or items on` the master sheet and permit the writingof entries simultaneously in` spaces associated with the dierent items. To facilitate accurate positioning `of the guidingfmask, and to hold it in aselected location in Vits sliding movement, resilient detent means Vare provided for yieldaoly and releasably holding the guiding mask mounting means at one location and restraining it against the sliding movement. The detent means cooperates in this functioning with a series ofA grooves, spaced apart axially longitudinallyfalong the hinge-like structure .to enable stepwise advancement in the sliding movement of the guiding mask, and selectively to hold it in any desired location in its stepwise movement.

"Properly to position the guiding mask entry location openings to expose the desired portion of the master sheet' upon each advance step of the guiding mask movement, the mask mounting means is provided with a clamping structure that rmiy grips one end ofthe mask and is detachable to permit adjustment Vof the masi;Y with respect to the 'extent' of its insertion in the gripping means and to its Voverlying the master sheet.

The'guiding'maskV preferably Vis of appreciable size sufcient to cover a substantial area around lits-entrylvocating openings against the mah-ing of mistakes by the vbookkeeper'or 'otheruser and to .provide ari-adequate writing surface for the auxiliary recordslreets, which will prevent transfer of -that writing to the master sheet. ln

prior posting devices, this required guiding masks that Fig. l looking inthe direction of the arrows;

`rubber bottom caps 15. Thus, together the feet 13 and short legs 14 serve toV by screws linear ear that extends Vvbeyond the left hand edge Vofbase-board 10 in substan-Y were cumbersome and unwieldy for lthe operator to handle and substantial additional Vwork space in which to placeAV the mask during the relatively infrequent and short periods necessary to change master sheets. VTo remedy this situation and to effect considerable savingin space,-thedevice .of this Vinvention has abutment means whereby thefguiding mask automatically can be held in .an'Y upstanding position completely swung away from Vthe base;l:zoard.

Thus, Vwhenthe master sheet is to be removed or` replaced, the operator'needs only Yto swing the lightweightV guiding maskabout its hinge-like mounting means to its upstanding position.

The invention is explained in greater Vdetailinrelation to the specific embodiment` shown for illustrationand with no intent to be limited thereby, in the accompanying drawings wherein: Y

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the entire device;` Y

Fig. 2 Vis Va vertical crosssection along the line 2-'-2 .of

Fig..6 s a vertical cross-section along the line 6 6 of Fig. 4 showing Vthe stepwise advancement control groovesron the hinge rod; and .Y I Fg.7isaplan view of the guidingmask. In Vthe drawings,` the generally rectangular VYbase-board or'support member 10 is fabricated preferably offrelatively' stiff, lightweight material ofsntiicient hardnessto withstand surface injury fromY repeated writing pressure, such` as polished formica board.` .The underside of the Yboard (see Fig. 3) preferably is structurally reinforced adjacent to its front edge Yfby a rigid channel 11, and

adjacentl to its rear edge by another bracing piece such as the channel 12.V Relatively short, Vsupporting feet 13, '40

which can be of rubber or other yieldable material, are

. provided along the forward under end of the base-board having a central aperture, are slidably circumpse'd or encircled about hinge rod 26, thereby giving them rotative movement about, and slidingmovement axially lon-v gitudinally along, hinge rod 26. Collars 28 and 29 are Y each formed with a flattened portion across a'minor part of its peripheral surface to provide a seat as Vat and 31 respectively, to serveV a purpose to be described presently. One of the collars, conveniently the one nearer to the `forward end of hinge rod 26, namely collar 28,

is formed with radial bore 32 opening into the centralVV aperture of the collar and closed at its other end and inV which is disposeda ball 33 biased toward hinge rod 26-` by a Yspring 34.Y As seen in Fig. ,4, ball 33 is engageable respectively.

Y positions.

l Vrod 26 under the controlling action of the ballmember or detent 33 in engagement with each individual and Vconveniently depending from the forward reenforc- Y Y 'Y ing member or bracing piece 11. 4Then under the rear endY of base-board 10, 'and' conveniently depending from Vthe rear bracing channel 12, are a plurality of support- 14, Veffectively two, Yhaving Y ing members or short legs hold base-board 1li Vin la rearwardly inclined position when itis on a generally horizontal surface. VBase-board serve for holding the master sheet set Vin position on the board. These pins 16 `preferablyare Yremovably secured 17 extendingthrough theFbas'e-board. Attached, conveniently to the underside of the left hand end of the rear edge of base-board 10, is a mount-V ving means holding bracket 20; This includes an attach-y ing plate 21`in facing engagement with, and attached to Y base-board `10 byffasteners 22, and a depending web portion 23 extending laterally outwardly beyond the side v edge of board 10 as an ear of generally curvilinear or circular configuration. A similar bracket -24 is secured Yto fbaseboard 10, convenientlyto its under side at the and includes a generally curvisame end of its front edge,

similarly laterally outwardly tially parallel and. facing relation to ear 23. A hinge rod 26 of circular cross-section extends between, and has itsopposite ends fixed respectively to, earse23 and 25,

the portion of plates. Y v Y Y Y i v Thus, clamp jplates 35 and 38 and collars 28 and 29 Y lcombine to provide mounting or carrying means vfor ef.-

10 isprovided further, along'near one side edge, with a v Vplurality of'spaced apart, upstanding pins or pegs 16 to A 'nected to the collars 28 and 29, is a plate-like Y member 35. This member'seats on the at seat'portions 3l) andf'31 of the'collars and is detachably iixedly securedto them by threaded fasteners or screwsf36-and` 37. QThus, clamping member 35 is rotatable with collarsA f in theadvancing movement controlling grooves or recesses 27 and resiliently maintained therein releasably to hold cc-llar 28 and restrain it againstundesired sliding movement along hinge rod 26. L

Extending parallel to rod 26, `between andrigidly con- 28'and 29 about, and slidable along Vhinge rodr26k, being limited only by the contacting of collars 28 and 29 alternatively with the frontand'rear bracket ears 25 and 23 The ends of clamping member 35'extendslightly be- Yyond'tlie collars 28 and 29. respectively so as to overhang the bracket ears when in the just mentioned limiting ing member 35 provide a rigid assembly, they are'movable as a unit axially longitudinally in steps Aalong hinge Vgroove 27.

i A second clamp plate member 38, similar in 'coniigu-Y Y ration to clamp plate member 35, is positioned Vin overlying relation to the latterand secured to it by threaded fastenersorrscrews39r.V The screws 39 extend preferably freely throughclamp plate 38 and threadedly into clamp plate 35 fso as to effect a fectingrrotation or swinging of guide mask 40 about hinge rod 26, andforward and rearward movement of. the mask axially longitudinally along the hinge rod.' Y Stated otherwise, the mounting means or carrier composed of grippingplates and collars combinewith Ythe rod26 to define a hinge-like construction permitting swinging guide mask 40 toward and away from the writing board 10,V

and for sliding the mask Vthe base-board. Y g Y Y The mask 40 k(seeA Fig. 7) is generally rectangular in configuration, with the longer dimension from Yside to forwardly and rearwardly overl Y fside so `as to extend substantially Yacross base-board `10,

eccentrically of them. Along the forward .portion of hinge rod 26 is a plurality of spaced iapart, stepwise advance controlling annular grooves 27. Y

' A pair of engaging collars or rings 28 and 29, each kproper position covering Vand having, in the illustrated embodiment, arpairV oflat` erally spacedrapart entry locating openings Y41ffand .42.

-Guide mask or cover member 40 normally'is in over--` lying relation to writing bedr10 'andhas arow of upstanding pins or pegs T43 which are adapted :to engage through correspondingly/'spaced apartfapertures in auxiliary or individual record sheets to hold thelatter in the opening v42V, as presently Vwill be described more fully; l V.As noted hereinabove, and best illustrated in Figs. 2

and 4, the lefthand end portion of Vguide mask 40 `is interposed andclamped between gripping plates 35and 38. In that gripped portion areV a number vof front to .rear spaced apart apertures 44 that are relatively Velliptical in horizontalV cross-section and through each of which passes afth'readed fastener 39.` The longer diameter of clampingV Y As the collars 28 and 29 with plate or clamp-A` gripping or clampingA action on mask 40 vdisposed `between these.- clamp` assenso theseapertures parallels the top and 'bottom edges of base-board l@ and is several times longer than the diameter of the fastener 39. Thus, upon loosening the fasteners 39 to release the clamping action, guide mask 4i) can be adjusted, within the limits of the longer diameter of apertures 44, relative to the gripping plates and the Writing board for proper alignment with the rulings on a master sheet. For operation under the different conditions, while it is desirable that guide mask 40 be somewhat flexible to be able to rest in part on the writing board Without deformation or fracture, nevertheless, as willvpresently become apparent, it is necessary thai: mask 40 have sufficient stiffness to sustain itself in an upstanding position.

in operation, the record keeper or bookkeeper iirst swings mask 40 away from the writing board 10 in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 5) to a position at an obtuse angle to the base-board, as shown in dot-and-dash outline in Fig. 5. Thus, when guide mask 4t? is moved to its forward or rearward extreme position along hinge rod 25 and swung counter-clockwise to itsl angular position away from the base-board, the overhanging or end portion of gripping plate 35 engages with the outer edge of the respective adjacent bracket ear tolimit swinging movement of the mask and support'it Vin its angular position. As best seen in Fig. 2, ear 23 includes anabutment edge portion which extendsl radially beyond collar Z9 in the direction away from baseboard it). it yis this remote abutment edge which engages with the undersurface of the rearward overhanging portion of the gripping plate 35 when the mask and gripping plates are moved to the dot-and-dash position of Fig. 5.

Similarly, when guide mask 4t) is moved to its forward extreme position, the underside of the forwardly overhanging portion of the plate 35 will engage with the remote edge of bracket ear 2S to limit swinging movement of the guide mask and support it in its opstanding position.

The above-mentioned mask stiffness need be only sufficient to prevent significant or excessive bending of the guide mask when in its upstanding position. Thus, it is seen that access is afforded to the entire top surface of writing board i@ without any need for separating the guide mask from its mounting means, so that no additional space is required to hold the mask when it is desired to remove it from overlying the base-board.

With guide mask 49 in its upstanding position, one or more master sheets, such as the departmental payroll sheet 45 can be heid stationary on base-board 1t? by having the pins i6 extending through the apertures along its left hand margin to maintain the sheets in set position. Thus, for example, the guide mask entry location opening 41 presents to view an employees name and time record, from which the various deductions and his net earnings can be computedA Any suitable writing transferring means, such as the carbon paper 46, can be p-laced over the right hand portion of the master sheet 45, so as to leave information in the name and time columns showing through the left hand entry location opening 4l. Carbon sheets having a ap secured along the top edge, as at 47 have been found very effective. Guide mask 48 then is swung into overlying relation to the carbon paper and master sheet 4S. Then an individual employees earnings record sheet 4S and paycheck 4l-, or other desired auxiliary sheets, for example, a payroll deductions memo to accompany cash pay, each with suitable spaced apart openings along its left hand side, are arranged with the pegs or pins 43 extending through these openings to hold these auxiliary record sheets in set proper position with their portions that are to have entries written on them, overlying the entry location openings 42 of guide mask 40.

Check 49 includes a voucher portion 5t), detachable if desired, upon which is entered the earnings and deduction d'a'ta computed from the time record.` Such voucher advantageously is' coated with carbon`- or other writing transferring pigment on that part of its back that is under the portion where the entries are made,. therebysimvultarieously to transfer the same data to the individual rec-ord sheet, asvv well as` through the carbon paper 46 to the master sheet 45. Thus, simply by making that single entry on the check voucher there is simultaneously effected` plural entries of the same data also on the individual employees pay record sheet and the master sheet.

rthe rest or main body of check 49 overlies the restV of the individual employeels record sheet 48 and a solid portion of mask 4%; and, as there is no writing transferring medium between the checkand the individual einp'loyees record sheet, the further writing on the rest of the check will' be written only on it.

The check and individual employees earning Ysheet then are vremoved from the pegs 43 and guide mask 4t), and the mask moved forwardly (he. toward the operator) one step,. as controlled by detent 33. That then exposes the next lower name in the name column `of master sheet 4'5 through the entry location opening 41 of guide 40, and the above-described simultaneous entry procedure is repeated. When these operations have been completed for each of the names `on the master sheet, guidemask 40' is swung away fromy base-board 1G to its angular position, and another master sheet is placed `in the proper position on the base-board and the process continued with tl e new m-aster sheet.

While the invention has been illustrated by detailed description of a particular embodiment of it, it is understood that Various modifications and substitutions can be made in it within the scope of the appended claims which are intended also to cover equivalents of the described embodiment.

What is claimed is:

l. A posting device for use in making entries simultaneously on selected portions of a plurality of superposed sheets having writing transferring means between each two of them, which device comprises a base board having a top surface adapted to support a master sheet, means on that surface of the base board for holding the master sheet in a selected fixed position, a pair of spaced apart hinge rod holding brackets secured one at each of the ends of one side of the base board and extending sidewardly outwardly beyond the edge of that side; a hinge rod extending along and spaced away sidewardly outwardly from that side edge of the base board and having its opposite ends secured to those brackets, the top surface of the base board thereby being unimpeded by the hinge rod; collar members rotatable around and slidable longitudinally on the hinge rod; iixed to the collar members for movement with them a pair of gripping plates facing one another; an entry location guiding mask having entry location openings in it and adapted to overlie the boards top surface and a master sheet and having one end portion clamped between the gripping plates for movement with the latter, said guide mask thus being swingable into and out of the overlying relation to the base board and slidable along the hinge rod when in said overlying relation to expose a desired entry portion of the master sheet; and means on the outer surface of the guide mask for holding auxiliary indvidual record sheets on that surface of the overlying one entry location opening for entry of particular records simultaneously on the individual record and master sheets; and each of the hinge rod holding brackets includes an abutment portion extending radially beyond the outer periphery of the said collars and remote from the base board, said abutment portions being selectively engageable with the under one of the gripping plates when the guide mask is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the top surface of the base board, said abutment portions thus serving to support the mask in a position swung away from the t 7 t Y top surface of the base board and at an obtuse angle with respect to its top surface to permit placement andremoval ofa master sheet on it.

2. A posting device for use in making entries simultaneously on selected portionsY of a plurality of superposedsheets having writing'transferring means between each two of them, which device comprises a base board having a top surface adapted to support a master sheet, means on that surface of the base board for holding the Vmaster sheet in a selected xed position, a pair of spaced apart hinge rod holding brackets secured one at each of the ends of one side ofthe base board and extending sidewardly outwardly beyond the edge `of that side; a

hinge rod extending along and spaced away sidewardly outwardly from that side edge V.of the base board and having its opposite ends .secured to those brackets, the top surface of the base board thereby being unimpeded by the hinge rod; collar members rotatable around and slidab'le longitudinally on the hinge rod;` fixed'to the collar members for movement with them a pair of grip,-

ping plates facing one another; an entry location guidingV mask having entryY location openings init and adapted Yto overlie the boards top surface and a master sheet and 'having'one end portion clamped between the gripping plates for movement with the latter, Vsaid guide'mask thus being swingable into and outrof the overlying relation to the base board and slidable along the hinge rod when in said overlying relation to expose a desired entry portion of the master sheet; and means on the 'outer sur- 863,480 2,163,193 Y Critchield June 20, 1939 2,344,453 PayneV n n Mar. 14, 1944 2,623,762.Y Nelson n Dec. 30, 1952 2,638,360 Straus May 12, 1953Y 2,640,715 Lontz .Y. June 2, 1953 2,678,046. Segal May 11,1954

face of the guide mask for holding 'auxiliary individual record sheets on that surface of the overlying onev entry location opening for entry Vof particular records simultaneously on the individual record and'mastersheets;

Vand abutment means*V for limiting the extent'rofy swinging movement of the guiding means and holdngit in a posi-V -tion swung away at an obtuse angle fromY the top surface of the base board, said means beingpositionedto extend `sidewardlyroutward1y from the same'side of the base ReferencesvCited in the le of this patent UNITED STATESV PATENTS t t Wolf n n Aug. .13,Y 1907 

